Humidifier



L. A. SMITH.

HUMIDIFIER. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8| I9I9.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W/ T/VESSES I lA/VE/VTOR LJZ. 57726512.

I AITORIVEIG? Patented Feb. 15,1921;

L. A. SMITH. HUMIDIFIER.

APPLICATION man FEB. a. 1919.

Patented Feb. 15, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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WITNESSES martian srarss PATENT @FFECE.

HUMIDIFIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

rammea'reb; 15, 1921.

Application filed February 8, 1919. Serial No. 275,820.

7 '0 all whom. it may concern-J Be it known that I, LAWRENCE A. SMITH, acitizen of the United States, and a resr dent of Port Gibson, in thecounty of Claiborne and State of lrlississippi, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Humidifiers, of which the following is aspecfication.

My invention is an improvement in humidifiers, and has for its object toprovide a device of the character specified, small and portable, andcapable of being carried in the pocket it desired, by means ofwhich acigar may be simultaneously moistened and impregnated with a flavoring,as, for instance, that of a high grade of tobacco extract, by driving ablast of air laden with the flavoring through the cigar from the tuckend to the other end.

A. further object of the invention is to provide means for humidifyingand flavoring cigars and tobacco in quantities by a similar process.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the improved humidifier;

Fig. 2 is an end view looking at the left;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail showing the check valve;

Fig. i is a similar detail showing the air outlets;

Fig. 5 is a front view of the check valve seat; 1 Fig. 6 is adiagrammatic view of an apparatus for humiditying and flavoring cigarsand tobacco in quantities.

In the bresent embodiment of the invention a suitable casing 1 isprovided, preferably of cylindrical form, having one end concaved asindicated at 2 to form a taper ing or conical seat for the tuck end ofthe cigar. At the other end there is a nipple 3, and within the casingis arranged a pair of: concentric tubes a and 5, the said tubes beingconcentric with the casing.

At the ,end adjacent to the seat 2 the tube 4; is rigidly connected withthe seat, the said tube 5 being connected with and communicating withthe seat at the apex. The tube 5 opens through the seat 2 at the centerthereof, so that air passing through the tube 5 may enter the cut end ofa cigar held on the seat. Near the nipple 3 the tube 5 passes out of thetube 4 and is bent around the same, as indicated at 6, and at the saidend the tube 5 has an opening 7 which forms a communication between theinterior of the casing 1 and the said tube 5.

The tube at has a series of openings 8 at the end adjacent to the seat,and the casing is adapted to be filled with a flavoring extract to abouthalf its depth, as indicated by the shade lines inFig. 1, by means ofthe openings 8, the extract being poured into the open end of the tubeat.

The said open end is normally closed by a cap 9 threaded on to the tube4, having a narrow inlet port 10. A bar 11 is ar ranged transversely ofthe end of the tube 4, the said bar being provided with a concavlty 12intermediate its ends for engagement by the check valve 13. This checkvalve 13 is a sphere, and the lateral enlargement 12 forms a seat forthe valve. Normally, there is space between the bar 11 and the capsufficient to permit the valve 18 to remain unseated from over the port10, but the valve will prevent the escape of the liquid extract from thecasing 1, while permitting the free entrance of air.

In practice, the cap may be removed to permit the insertion of theflavoring extract and with the extract in place the humidifier is readyfor use. In using the device, the cigar is clipped and the tuck end isinserted in the seat 2. A. blast of air is now driven into the tube 4through the inlet 10. This air passes down between the tubes 4: and 5,escaping at the openings 8, passes up through the extract into the openspace of the interior of the casing 1, into the. opening 7 of the tube5, and through the said tube into the cigar, properly moistening thesame and thoroughly flavoring the contents thereof. The air may besupplied by blowing into the opening 10, or by means of a pump ofsuitable construction, as for instance, a bulb. If desired. the tubecould be connected with any suitable source of air under pressure.

In Fig. 6 is shown an apparatus for humidifyine" and flavoring ci arsand tobacco in quantities. This apparatus comprises a. casing or exhaustchamber 15,'a container 16 for. the tobacco or cigars to be flavoredand. humified and a container 17 forthe liquid. A. pipe 18 connects thechambers 15 and 16 and a pipe 19 connects the chambers 16 and 17. eachpipe being controlled by a valve indicated at 20 and 21,'respectively.The container 17 has an inlet pipe 22, opening in the top thereof andextending to near the bottom, as shown, and a pump 23 or other means forexhausting the air in the chamber 15 is arranged in the said chamber,the pump being operated by the usual handle 24:. r

In operation, the cigars or tobacco to be humidified and flavored areplaced in the container 16. The container 17 is partially filled withliquid, as shown, and the air is partially exhausted from the, chamber15. lVhen now the valves 20 and 21 are opened a current of air ladenwith the flavoring matter is drawn through the casing 16, contactingwith the tobacco or cigars therein, and thoroughly humidifying andflavoring the same. .The process may be reversed by putting air underpressure in the chamber 15, and passing it in the opposite direction, itbeing understood that in this case the liquid container ,would bearranged between the tobacco container and the exhaust chamber.

I claim:

1. A device of the character specified comprising a casing adapted tocontain a flavoring extract, means for receiving the tobacco to beflavored and humidified and means for driving a blast of air through theflavoring extract and into and through the tobacco. i

2. A method of humidifying and flavoring cigars or tobacco, whichconsists in.

passing a current of air through a solution of flavoring extract tothoroughly impregnate the air with the extract and in forcing said airthrough the tobacco or cigars to be flavored. V r LAWRENCE ADKINSONSMITH.

